Cathedrals Express Valentine's Day Lunchtime Tour

How did the evening run fair. More of the same?

 

Also don't forget yesterdays run was running back through South London at around the time 80,000 rugby fans were being turfed out from Twickenham. I'm sure they'd have been delighted had they not been able to make connections home because a steam train had failed blocking Barnes junction or similar. Large crowds of inebriated sport fans tend to be very understanding, patient entities.

 

My footage of the lunch train at 6 locations:

 

And the return run, departing Victoria:

 

Big Al has my admiration because he has felt strongly enough to cancel his trip because of diesel assistance despite having a ticket that will not be refunded. You are a man with solid and commendable principles. I like you!

 

Here here! this is possibly the best posting of 2015 so far with so many excellent and valid points. Well done 1020 Shireman.

 

Agreed






fc doesnt like this

 

Delete

 

Meandering through Milford and whistling through Winchfield.

 

Yes Don, you can still walk down to it, no restrictions on access, but they have recently closed the patch of nearby land where you could park on Gapemouth Rd, so parking's a bit of a challenge and you may end up walking a fair way. Good place to see the regular summer steam on that line.

 

And what makes you think the B1 was likely to fail if the box hadn't been on the back?

 

So the B1 wont ever fail is that what your saying ?

 

No that is not what I'm saying.

 

then the 47 being there as back up seems like a just and fair decision.

 

Ian, I have you down as a man intelligent enough to realise how very silly a question that is.

The answer? Sod's Law.

 

Thinking mayflower has just been out on 3 tours does anyone think that she is being thrashed? Having the City of Essex on the back of the train doesn't bother me. What does bother me is how the trains get romped up to that 75mph w the diesel.

 

Don't patronise. I thought you'd grown up since your Stepney days but maybe I'm mistaken.
If you always run on the "sod's law" basis then you may as well throw in the towel and run nothing.

 

You just don't get it do you.

 

Bit fed up with all this 'debate' (to put it lightly) again ; if I remember rightly, it was only a couple of years ago that steam tours were failing regularly and without back up, lines being blocked for hours. all the usual...too many coaches, wrong engine, uphill route, bad coal, etc etc etc. Now we have a 'new' engine on route and as soon as all the praise drops down its back to the old discussion on diesel support. Is it a complete no diesel decision on these pages which we would see if anyone here was organising or would that change if you were organising. Perhaps it's the working diesel which is seen as not necessary, but is it not down to the steam engine driver to request assistance. In which case, do we have input from one of them to clarify ?? Coming up is the Cardiff trip and if the B1 is to take it, who would go without a diesel on the back ? I wouldn't blame them for the insurance even though over this busy line, it shouldn't be needed. and actually, I think its better on the back than inside. We've seen some clever photos where you don't even see it on the back. Anyway, loving the steam pics and videos on here , and also 34067 doing her stuff on other pages.

 

As has been stated many times, a properly maintained steam locomotive, on a suitable road, with a sensible load, handled competently, is no more likely to fail than a vintage diesel.